A/N: Here we are, the last chapter. I hope you enjoy! This is the first story I've completed and it feels like such a success. Thank you loves so much for your lovely reviews, favorites, and follows and such! You are the best! XOXOX!


Epilogue

True to his word, Prince Sky renounced his birthright to the throne of Eraklyon immediately after he had recited his wedding vows. As predicted, his cousin Thoren - who was seated amongst the guests - was more than willing to take on the burden of kingship. King Erendor was furious at his son, but even he could not deny that Thoren would make a far better ruler. There was once a time when such a slight would have bothered Prince Sky, but the weight of responsibility he once carried no longer plagued him, and so embraced Thoren like a brother, wishing him well and the greatest success. Now that he was betrothed to wed Princess Diaspro - the only solution that would satisfy her enraged parents - Thoren would need all the luck he could get. Not that Prince Sky would tell him that, of course.

He felt freedom as he walked back up the aisle with his bride, his old life falling from his shoulders. Prince Sky of Eraklyon was no more. Soon, he would be known as Sky, Prince Consort of Sparks, and that sounded far better to his ears.

King Oritel embraced Prince Sky as he and Bloom walked through the double doors. Queen Miriam did so as well, both of them brimming with pride and something reminiscent of relief - as if they never believed they would get to see their daughter's wedding day. What both he and Bloom had yet to uncover was that King Oritel's harsh behavior towards his daughter stemmed purely from a fear that she would never find her humanity, nor love of any kind, and become a monster that he himself created. It would take years of forgiveness to make his change of heart permanent, but surrounded by the glow of marital bliss, it was a remarkable first step.

The years that followed what was considered to be the "wedding of the century" were some of the most peaceful and prosperous the entire land had ever had.

Bloom's return to her homeland rekindled the peoples' belief in the Great Dragon, and with that belief came benefits. Progress was slow, but eventually the crops grew in plenty, the people were in good health, and good fortunes came their way.

To apologize for their daughter's behavior, the King and Queen of Isis forged new trades with Sparks, and in return, Sparks lent their soldiers to help Isis rebuild what had been damaged in war. Education thrived, art thrived, and every day there was some new way of thinking. When Sparks had proven to be on the way back to importance and power, it drew attention from other up and coming kingdoms such as Solaria along the Eastern Borders and Linphea amongst the Southern Woods. Even Andros by the sea came out of its normal political seclusion to be a part of this renaissance. As Spark's connections grew, so did Bloom's social circle, and eventually she was able to say that she was surrounded by a very close knit group of friends, another feat she previously thought impossible.

Over time, Diaspro and Bloom learned to put their differences aside in order to work to better their people, though neither one ever ended up liking the other. Neither was upset by this. Rather, they accepted that some relationships were simply not meant to be, and let things lie. Bloom was polite and sent a gift when Diaspro gave birth to her firstborn - a son she named Magnus - as well as gifts for the next four sons she produced in rapid succession. Perhaps that was why she had gone to rest far too young, Bloom would think as she attended the late queen's extravagant funeral. Her body simply gave out under the duress. And though she never once felt for Diaspro before, Bloom would shed a tear as the procession locked the Queen of Eraklyon away in her stone cold tomb for the rest of eternity.

Bloom herself would not become queen until her parents passed from very old age, the Great Dragon calling them away in their sleep. She did not have to be told; she could simply feel that one moment they were there, and the next they were not. Though she had grown close to her mother and father over the years, Bloom did not mourn their loss as the rest of the land did, for she knew that they were in a better place.

She was coronated two days after her parents' funeral, the warm morning sun shining on her skin as she knelt in front of the magistrates to take her oath. There were times when she had thought herself a terrible fit for queen, but looking out over the balcony upon all her subjects, the weight of the ceremonial crown upon her head, she knew there was no other place she would rather be. Prince Sky was coronated with her, accepting his title with pride. He was happy to spend the rest of his days in her shadow, knowing that he was the only one who could tame such a wildly independent, strong woman. He was humbled to have a say in her life, to help her be the best ruler she could be. She would have to be the best. She was a queen in a sea of kings, but Prince Sky knew she could handle it. There was no challenge she could not face.

Except children.

When Bloom first found out she was pregnant, she fretted for days upon weeks about how she would go about ruling and how the pregnancy would impact her ability to lead, and it took many kind words and innumerable days in bed to get Prince Sky to calm her down. Her sickness made her especially grouchy, and she tore her gowns to pieces when they refused to button across her growing belly. Though once the baby arrived, all her aggravations and worries went away.

Her firstborn, a daughter by the name of Verdona, was perfect, and Bloom would do anything to keep her that way. Ten finger and toes and not a hint of scales. From her first wail, she was the apple of Bloom's eye, and Prince Sky sincerely believed that his wife would cease loving him in order to love the baby more. It took many passionate nights in bed for Bloom to convince her husband otherwise, and perhaps that vicious cycle of love was how the two of them ended up with so many children.

They were the proud parents of five rambunctious little girls, each one different in her own way spare the matching heads of flaming red hair. They would all follow their mother wherever she went, emulating how she walked, how she talked, even pretending to be dragons though only the youngest, Elysium, had shown signs of her reptilian heritage. Most would worry about the lack of an heir, but instead they worried about when their children would sprout wings and claws. Prince Sky did not mind though. He was overjoyed to share his home with the six beautiful ladies who owned his heart, and would not wish to change a single thing.

And so, as all legendary loves are want to do, their lives moved on with in near perfect contentment.

Near perfect, as there were days when Bloom was irritable. There were days when she destroyed the bedroom and perpetuated arguments that lasted for hours followed by days of stony silence. There was one fight soon after their third daughter's birth that resulted in Bloom flying off into the night and not returning until the week's end. That night ended with tears and apologies and many, many assurances of love.

Time passed and their daughters married and had children, who in turn grew up and had children of their own. Eventually Bloom stepped down from her role as queen and let her daughter take up the mantle, radiating with pride as Elysium recited the same vows Bloom had taken so long ago. Both she and her husband enjoyed their old age, choosing to move from the palace to a secluded chateau near the valley where the Great Dragon had originally sat. They didn't know that of course; Bloom was simply drawn there and Prince Sky never questioned her intuition. He would be happy no matter where they were. They saw their children and grandchildren as much as possible, and spent the rest of their time simply coexisting, reminding them both of how they first met: The Prince and The Dragon alone in the forest, journeying together.

And when Bloom's journey finally did end after many long years full of more love than she felt she would ever deserve, Prince Sky was not far behind her.